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Thanks for the feedback! Now that I know it's possible, I'll have to keep trying. Apple's core audio driver is apparently better for this than the standard Windows drivers.

How did it work out changing the power cable to the other side?

Still I feel so spoiled now with my p-515 and audio over usb that I’m not sure I can go back to using a audio cable. 😁

I just tried it to satisfy your curiosity and the ground loop is completely gone. Even when I switch the power back to the other port, it doesn't repro anymore. Strange stuff.

I can also use Bluetooth MIDI as Tony mentioned. Latency impact there tends to be minimal.

Someone mentioned less than 10 ms latency with the USB Audio. I suspect that will be good enough, but I'd have to try it to be sure. Already with Pianoteq, the default 10.7 ms is too much for me, but at 1.3 ms it's perfect.

In the words of Carl Sagan, if you wish to create a piano sound from scratch, you must first invent the universe. A tall order indeed.

This is my brief hands-on of Pianoteq 7.

While I had never spent much time with the Steinways, the spotlight is now on the new NY Steinway D and it certainly doesn't disappoint! Indeed, it is a lot of fun with ample musical potential. I am particularly excited by the Classical Recording preset and I think I might actually produce something with this.

The layering/morphing stuff screams for a strings and pads pack -- I hope Modartt release one soon.

Overall, there are many subtle improvements to all the instruments I tried, all for the better, and with this, Pianoteq 7 takes another step towards realism with stunning playability.

I'm so happy with the versatility and musicality of Pianoteq + native Novus options, that there just isn't a reason to bother with anything else now.

To top it all off, and what really got me excited -- I got the new $70 Raspberry Pi 400 in keyboard form factor + PreSonus Studio 24c and I installed Pianoteq 7 on it.

A touch on my iPad and I now instantly have a full-screen touch-responsive interface of Pianoteq 7 ready to go!



On my Novus, it's also a single touch to toggle between native sound and Pianoteq.



My Pianoteq setup is now 100% turnkey.

All the settings are essentially maxed out -- minimum latency, maximum polyphony, excellent internal sample rate, etc, and the Pi doesn't even break a sweat at max Pianoteq playability. I didn't even bother to overclock it.

Evidently, the PreSonus is also doing its share of the heavy lifting. I will velcro the PreSonus under the Novus -- it'll fit right in with all the other controls and I/O. A single wire goes from the PreSonus to the Pi (+ power), so that will be trivial to conceal.

Since it's a Pi, I could leave it on permanently, but even if I don't, 40 seconds from the moment I press the on-switch, Pianoteq is completely functional and stays that way. The Pi is silent, invisible, headless, but I can instantly access the Pianoteq GUI when I want and I can even control Pianoteq via MIDI.

It's a sweet setup and beats my MBP in every way.

I started out a skeptic, but Pianoteq is truly a stunning achievement by Modartt. This level of technical achievement doesn't happen by accident -- pianophil and friends at Modartt are wizards, plain and simple.

Bravo!

Pretty impressive set up! Kudos!

I'm sorry that I'm one of the Davids that somehow intimidated you? If so, I am very sorry!!! But I loved what you did, and the blues flavor of your selection.
It's really cool that you gave this U4 emulation that special detuned feel!
And wow, I may need to seriously plan creating some YouTube videos myself now that I've become somehow known by you
Anyway, have a nice weekend!

I never got my head around that single usb cable stuff.; didn't work for my 515. I kneed more knowledge in the head, ha ha! Get arrested for that. I still use UM-1 midi adapter and two MIDI connectors into usb..

I hope this doesn't sound rude, but I have to ask.

Does a $300 software package really make a $13,000 piano sound better? I can't quite get my head around this.

"Better" is that troublesome word that requires a valuer and a particular context.

The sound of any digital piano can be greatly improved by a good VST.
But you need not spend $300. Half that is all you need

@navindra
That's pretty cool!

@trooplewis There's no question that the $13,000 piano is competently done. You can see my amateurish recordings with the SK-EX engine my .sig.

The questions I ask myself before going in with something like Pianoteq is:

1) Does it do anything to improve my musicality?
2) Does it contribute to my enjoyment of playing?
3) Would I make a recording with this?

The answers are yes, yes, and yes in the case of Pianoteq.

Is P > N? That is highly debatable, but if you look at the top of the thread, I made a recording with the U4 which is an upright sound and completely different from the SK-EX grand.

I also plan to make a recording where I use both P and N, and hopefully things will become more clear regarding the musical versatility afforded.

Thanks! I really have no love for having a bulky laptop/desktop computer connected to my piano. The energy required to hook up the laptop, sign in, run software, etc, is draining and takes away from my enjoyment of playing the piano.

Pianoteq 7 on Raspberry Pi 400 (+ PreSonus), however, has blown away all my expectations. It's basically Pianoteq in a box... highly performant and effectively invisible. Permanently connected and always ready.

I just velcro'ed my PreSonus below my piano and it's a really clean and sweet setup -- no visible wires and no added speakers!

Thanks David -- I'm more impressed rather than intimidated. I listened to some of your demos (possibly for the Modern U) and they were really well done!

You should definitely make some YouTube videos as you've got the chops and it will be great to see what a VST can do at the fingers of a professional.

You know .... I hear this often and I have to say it has not been my experience, using Pianoteq.

It is on my HP laptop on a tiny stand next to my Piano. It has Pianoteq loaded with a piano sound and it stays on all of the time.

I come to the piano ... push the ON button on my piano and my laptop springs to life in less than 10 seconds and I am ready to play.

Yes, I was honoured to have recorded some pieces for the Modern U. It's a great piano for classical music, and it has some wonderful delicate things hidden in that upright, however an upright is what some may say inferior to a concert grand. I was among those people for a time, but mainly because I don't like the action of an upright, especially after playing concert grands.
Yes, once I finish playing my solo recital, which happens tomorrow, I should be done with my semester shortly as well. Then it would be the time to play some things and share publically. I love piano VST's, they bring what's only available in the concert halls to my bedroom!

Wish you good luck on your recital and look forward to your pieces! What pieces are you playing for your recital?

Best way. I never switch my piano off though. The laptop springs to life immediately I play, but the screeen lights up several seconds later . . . . .srange!

So... your recording will be NP-complete?

Well played, sir. Well played. 👏`